Stewards of the White Oak River Basin

2009-10-01 Southwest Creek, Camp Lejeune, NC


This picture demonstrates how easy it is to dislodge a very large mass of alligatorweed and get it out into the current.

The clam rake was placed in the center of this mass and gently pulled out into the current where nature takes over to transport it down stream.

It took about one minute to do this.This one was so easy as it was a fresh arrival. If it were left there to grow it would become entwined around everything by its rapid growth.

Left alone it would have doubled in size in three weeks!

Don't be misled by the open patch of water in the center. Every bit of alligatorweed you see came out into the current on that one purchase by the one clam rake. It all hung together.

The dead alligator weed you see is dead on the surface only. The stems below are alive and growing again, as whoever did this spraying used a contact only spray and not a systemic spray. This is way upstream above our lunch stop.

This mass is sure to be held up again and again on over hanging branches dipping down into to the water or on old dead cypress trees both of which should not be there to snare this floating alligatorweed and should be removed.

We go back next Tuesday, 2009-10-06. We will meet at the Food Lion parking lot at 9:00 AM opposite the main gate to the Air Base on RTE 17 south of Jacksonville.

Please come and join us if only to observe or to participate if you wish. Stay as long as you like and leave anytime you wish.

It is a lovely creek to paddle and explore. The weather is sunny in the low eighties. We wiil be off the water by 3:00.

Thanks, Elmer

Elmer Eddy